Hampden or Murrayfield decision

[BEARGER 1,829]

Last line is a cracker!

 

Hampden v Murrayfield: Scottish FA opts to keep games in Glasgow

 

BBC Scotland

 

Hampden Park has been the home of the Scotland national team since 1906

The Scottish FA will be staying at Hampden after agreeing to buy the national stadium from Queen's Park.

A deal has been struck to pay the League Two club £5m for the Glasgow ground.

The SFA was contemplating moving to Murrayfield, the home of Scottish Rugby, once its Hampden lease expires in 2020.

But instead it will now take ownership of the ground in two years' time.

Half of the money to complete the cash takeover was pledged by Scottish businessman Lord Willie Haughey, with Queen's Park set to move their matches to Lesser Hampden.

While the Glasgow side will receive £5m for the deal, it is believed the total cost to the SFA will be in the region of £19m because of liabilities going back to when the stadium was redeveloped in 1998.

 

SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell has promised that the body will now look at improving the stadium, which has been criticised by supporters during the process.

"Our mission is to inspire a nation to love the game and having a home that we can call our own is an important part of that," he said.

"While we are now committed to Hampden Park we also recognise that it needs to change. We have heard the fans' views throughout the process and agree with them that we need to improve access, transport links and the overall experience. We are committed to doing that.

"With that in mind, we need all of Scotland to pull together to make it Scotland's national stadium. We have heard many voice their support for the stadium. We need collective action, driven by the Scottish FA, to ensure it remains the beating heart of Scottish football."

Not a foregone conclusion

The SFA commissioned a feasibility study to assess all the options and rejected a proposal in January from Celtic and Rangers to share hosting of internationals and domestic cup matches.

But various hurdles, including the cost of such a deal, ensured it was not a foregone conclusion.

The board met for several hours on 29 August but were unable to come to a conclusion and asked both bidders to provide more information before making a final decision.

"Today's announcement has been the conclusion of a four-year process to review our national stadium beyond 2020," said SFA president Alan McRae.

"It was a hugely difficult decision and I would like to place on record our thanks to Scottish Rugby for their professionalism throughout the process.

"They made a truly compelling case to move to Edinburgh and gave us a very difficult decision to make. I would like to pay tribute to the inspiration, energy and hard work of Scottish Rugby Chief Executive, Mark Dodson, and his Chief Operating Officer, Dominic McKay - both are true leaders in Scottish sport.

"This decision is about what was best for Scottish football and our members. It is about the future of football in Scotland.

"I would also like to thank everyone who has been part of this process and to recognise the enormous generosity of Lord Haughey."

What are the benefits of staying at Hampden?

The stadium in Glasgow's south side has been hosting Scotland's matches for 112 years, as well as the majority of Scottish League Cup and Scottish Cup finals - and latterly semi-finals too - since 1903.

It is regarded by many, including a majority of former players and managers, as the "spiritual home" of Scottish football.

But that emotional attachment is partially offset by complaints from fans about poor infrastructure and transport links, and a distance between the stands and the action when seated behind the goals.

However, Darryl Broadfoot, a former Scottish FA communications director, said "there is a mythology over Hampden's transport problems".

"There are actually three train stations in the vicinity," he told BBC Scotland. "The problem is enough trains going there, which is a conversation - or a demand - that has to be placed on the rail provider."

Hampden's current capacity is just under 52,000, but it is rarely full for Scotland games and some domestic cup semi-finals.

Some have suggested reducing the capacity to about 35,000 and bringing the two stands behind the goals closer to the pitch.

 

[ranger_syntax 3,765]

4 hours ago, BEARGER said:

Some have suggested reducing the capacity to about 35,000 and bringing the two stands behind the goals closer to the pitch.

 

 

[Gonzo79 13,597]

4 hours ago, BEARGER said:

Some have suggested reducing the capacity to about 35,000 and bringing the two stands behind the goals closer to the pitch.

Bringing the stands behind the goals closer to the pitch is a good idea.  

 

Hampden would be ideal if it could hold about 25k and then when Rangers get to a final stick another tier on and make it 70k.  

Edited September 11, 2018 by Gonzo79

[RANGERRAB 3,258]

2 hours ago, Gonzo79 said:

Bringing the stands behind the goals closer to the pitch is a good idea.  

 

Hampden would be ideal if it could hold about 25k and then when Rangers get to a final stick another tier on and make it 70k.  

The SFA don’t have the money to do that.

 

Firstly where are they going to get the £19m which is going to be the total cost of this purchase from QP?

 

Or is Willie Haughey now going to own both the San Giro & Hampden ?

 

 

Edited September 11, 2018 by RANGERRAB

[Bill 13,717]

 

[RANGERRAB 3,258]

3 hours ago, Bill said:

 

Interesting theory but I tend to think the opposite will happen i.e. the yahoos will move into Hampden. 

When the bunnet took them over 25 years ago he built them a stadium on the cheap which was never going to last long term. 

It’s lifespan would be around 25 years which is now up.

The Rangers board should now be asking the SFA who is paying the £19m liabilities due once they acquire Hampden. 

[compo 6,129]

Did you know the first Hampden park sat on the site were the Hampden bowling club now resides on Cathcart road accross from Cathkin park good little club any bowlers should pay it a visit they are very welcoming.